Consumer Electronics

Old classroom becomes new home (01/12/10)
Lois Beck is excited about her new home in a Spencer historical landmark. Eager to move Friday afternoon into her brand new apartment in the former Spencer Middle School building, she's already splurged on a new television set to accentuate the space's open floor plan. She's also purchased a Christmas tree, which she plans to proudly display in her dwelling's large set of windows next holiday season. Beck will formally claim the space as her own when her Candlewick and Copenhagen Christmas plates, and the cup and saucer collection started years ago by her mother-in-law are placed in her daughter's former classroom. Cheryl Hurst, Beck's daughter, taught English in the same room that has now been remodeled into her mother's apartment. ...

Cycle Country chairman resigns amidst allegations of misappropriated funds (01/12/10)
Cycle Country Accessories Corp. announced Friday that it uncovered a misappropriation of funds by its Chairman of the Board of Directors L. G. (Bob) Hancher, Jr. The discovery occurred in connection with the audit of the company's financial statements for the period ending Sept. ...

Area producer receives Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Award (01/07/10)
AMES -- A cattle producer and livestock auction market operator was named the 2010 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award winner for his focus on animal care practices. Morris Larson, Spencer Livestock Sales, of Spencer, was honored at the Iowa Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention in Ames on Jan. 5...

'Mag' Johnson passes away (12/29/09)
For generations of Spencer students, the choice for a noon meal was simple. They could take the school's hot lunch. Or, they went to "Mag's," the nickname for Johnson Grocery, a tiny store near the railroad tracks on the corner of East 4th Street and 5th Avenue East in Spencer...

Service with a smile (12/26/09)
The dedicated worker mold was broken with Kathryn Johnston and Chuck Elliott. Together, the two have accumulated 88 years serving customers at the Johnston Automotive store in downtown Spencer. ...

36 ag jobs saved by union vote, department to look at program cuts (12/08/09)
As he trudges through the mud at his farm east of Spirit Lake, one has to wonder if Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is drawing comparisons to the muddy condition of Iowa's finances. "We'll do what we have to do," he says with a glint of optimism. "Our businesses and citizens in the state are hurting because of the current economy, so obviously the state has less money as well."...

Cruise vessel safety legislation passes House (10/24/09)
Advocates for cruise ship safety are applauding House passage Friday of language authored by U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) to improve safety of cruise ship passengers on the high seas. Matsui's Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act of 2009 was included in H.R. ...

The Hotel: Iowa's first Dream Center (10/17/09)
If a local church has its way, The Hotel will become a "dream center" for the area. Rev. Kevin Grimes of DaySpring Assembly announced Friday, "KES Properties LLC, the owner of The Hotel on Grand Avenue, has offered to give us all of the stock in the corporation. ...

The toughest sport on dirt (10/06/09)
The rules are simple. Place a wiry 150-pound cowboy on the back of a hulking, snorting temperamental 2,000 pound bull and see if he can ride the beast for an eternal eight seconds... with one hand strapped to the bull's massive backside. S & G Bucking Productions brings the PBR Enterprise Tour to Spencer on Nov. 20-21...

Parker Historical Society to gain downtown presence (10/02/09)
It seems very appropriate that a business with long ties to the Spencer community has helped to pave the way to a new home for a local organization dedicated to preserving the county's history. A purchase agreement was signed this week between the Parker Historical Society and the owners of Johnston Automotive, which will allow the society to move its offices and exhibition area to the company's Grand Avenue location...

Ag reps encouraged, warned about future of industry (09/19/09)
While times may be tough, nearly 100 agricultural representatives were encouraged to keep their chins up and focus on the prize during a luncheon held Thursday at the Clay County Fair. ...

Lost at sea -- Kendall Carver's crusade (09/12/09)
The days of business cards and power-point presentations were supposed to be in the past for 72-year-old Kendall Carver, a member of the Spencer High School class of 1954. He retired to Phoenix 15 years ago after a successful career as an insurance executive in New York City. It's the stage of life when hobbies, grandchildren and travel should replace the appointment book...

Egg industry responds to 'Hatchery Horrors' video (09/03/09)
"The footage you are about to see was recorded with a hidden camera at Hy-Line hatchery in Iowa, the world's largest hatchery for egg-laying breed chicks," the narrator begins. Footage follows of chicks being "roughly" sorted by sexers who separate the male chicks from the females. The females have their heads clamped and a portion of their beaks removed by a laser...

Sales tax holiday continues through Saturday (08/07/09)
Retailers are used to the routine by now, but the weekend's "sales tax holiday" in Iowa can still cause a bit of confusion, according to Iowa Department of Revenue spokeswoman Renee Mulvey. "First of all, it's just two days," she said. "It's only Friday and Saturday. It's not Sunday."...

As Senate debates, local dealers wait for 'clunkers' payments (08/06/09)
Local car dealership managers acknowledge a bit of confusion and a lot of red tape through the "cash-for-clunkers" stimulus program. They also see a little more traffic on their lots, suggesting at least some aspects of the federal incentive program are gaining traction...

New 3-D printer spurs school, industry partnering (07/28/09)
The addition of a 3-D prototype printer in the Spencer High School (SHS) Tech Ed building is benefiting area industries, while at the same time teaching SHS students marketable skills. Students will be allowed to use it for the first time this upcoming school year. Representatives of Cycle Country, Tecton Industries, Eaton Corp. and Maurer Manufacturing were notified of the Dimension BST1200es printer's arrival in late May. They've been utilizing it ever since.

Elliott to open Mainstreet Market schedule (07/16/09)
Mainstreet Market is returning to the Clay County courthouse square July 16 for the first of five Thursday evenings of live entertainment, fresh produce, art and food. Chad Elliott will perform on the opening night. Now in its fifth year, Mainstreet Market takes place Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. On July 23, it will move downtown for Crazy Days, but the following week it will return to the courthouse square, 215 W. 4th St., Spencer...

Egg company accident claims Alta man (07/14/09)
The Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office on Sunday released the name of a 24-year-old Alta man who died after falling into a semitrailer tanker being loaded with liquid egg product. An investigation at Rembrandt Enterprises is ongoing, but deputies think Israel Garduno Gonzalez may have been working on top of the semi and accidently fell into the tanker at about 7:30 p.m. Friday...

'Help' arrives in Spencer Tuesday (07/11/09)
The "Help is Here Express" bus tour will be in Spencer on Tuesday, July 14, stopping at Spencer Hospital to help uninsured and financially-struggling Iowans access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The bus tour is part of the partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) -- a nationwide effort sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research companies -- raising awareness of patient assistance programs among residents who have been facing layoff or a loss of health care benefits in a struggling economy. ...

Van Der Heide named Ranch's top wrangler (07/10/09)
She's a business owner, she's a wife, and she's a mother. And now, she's the top manager in a franchise that includes dining establishments in nine states. Co-owner of the Spencer Pizza Ranch store, as well as its manager, Rachel Van Der Heide admitted that she was stunned when she was presented the Manager of the Year Award at the company's recent summer meeting in Sioux Falls, S.D...

More on Don Veitch (07/01/09)
The Greenville native, with expressive eyes and a subtle smile, can paint a rosy picture for even the grimmest of tales. Don Veitch's long-held philosophy is: "There are no bad days. Some days are just better than others." The 86-year-old Spencer resident was handed a "real low number" over six decades ago, which meant he didn't have very long to wait before being drafted...

State officials: Pork won't spread 'swine flu' (05/01/09)
Concerns about the swine flu's impact on the state's robust pork industry prompted official comment from the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture's office Thursday. Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey and the State Veterinarian for Iowa, Dr. David Schmitt, reiterated that consumers cannot get the H1N1 flu strain, or "swine flu" by eating pork and there is no evidence of this flu in the pig population of Iowa or any state...

Hanson purchases Lundt & Sears Plumbing & Heating (04/04/09)

Spencer students participate in 'Kick Butts Day' activity (03/26/09)
Students across Iowa rallied against tobacco Wednesday as they joined thousands of young people nationwide for the 14th annual Kick Butts Day, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The specially designated day raised awareness about continued tobacco marketing to kids and the need for Congress to crack down on such practices. ...

School board acts on contract terminations, adopts 2009-10 budget (03/25/09)
Spencer school board members adopted the $19.3 million certified 2009-10 budget presented to them Tuesday. It is based on a 4 percent allowable growth rate and sets the overarching statutory and taxing rate limits for next school year. With some board discussion about changing the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) state income surtax from the current 4 percent to a 5 percent surtax rate next year, specifically with David Schlichtemeier's concerns about making such a move, the board approved a 5 percent ISL rate.. ...

Cattle expansion to be considered Tuesday (03/24/09)
Residents will have a chance to comment about a beef producer's construction plans Tuesday morning at the Clay County Board of Supervisors meeting. The application, from Jim Christensen and Royal Beef, is part of the state's "master matrix" process. He is approved to for 11,200 head of cattle at his operation, about three miles south of Royal...

Headin' out west?: Spencer artifact (03/12/09)
Your assistance is being requested in making sure the 15 sections to a stained, leaded glass sign that once graced a downtown Spencer business find their way home. Free Brothers, the former clothing store estimated to have been in operation from 1907 until 1939, was owned by the late brothers Roston B. Free and C. Ralph Free. The historic sign displayed inside their Main Street business hung 10-15 feet from the entryway from a large beam running across the building's then- 18-foot-high ceiling...

New exhibits open at Parker Museum (03/07/09)
Parker Museum will be hosting an opening reception, from 1-4 p.m., Sunday, March 15 for two new exhibits: "Reliving the 1920s in Clay County" and "Photography by Art Bates" created by Assistant Director Holly Kellogg. The exhibits opened March 4 and will be in place through Nov. 30, 2009...

Families work to save activities (02/24/09)
Youth music programs, the local Future Farmers of America chapter, the boys swim team, debate and mock trial were identified in a list of reductions as the Spencer School District tries to shave about $700,000 from the 2009-10 budget. The district held a public hearing Saturday that drew students and their families in an effort to keep their activities off the chopping block...

Uptick in local library usage tied to economic times (02/14/09)
Many libraries are reporting usage spikes for the last half of 2008. Call it a sign of the economic times. While Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson reported to board members this week that the local statistics were neutral, maybe even a bit down over the last six months, she noted Spencer is starting to see what other libraries are...

Area search under way for 'Kids Against Hunger' volunteers (02/10/09)
Area volunteers are being sought to take part in a March 7 event that'll not only be fun, but is guaranteed to fill the heart. The service project anticipated to be filled with fellowship will have interested individuals and groups signing up to package meals for Kids Against Hunger...

CCE students: Have business, will sell product (02/07/09)
Clay Central/Everly students in Liz Kardell's Introduction to Business class are learning what it takes to run a business from the ground up. They're evaluating and re-evaluating every decision they make, as well as staying accountable to one another...

Residents to start tackling school budget cuts Monday (01/17/09)
The 25 "additional" budget packages being offered for consideration by community residents at 7 p.m. Monday night (See "2009-10 Spencer School Additional Budget Packages" on Page 2) total a potential $823,000 worth of staff positions and programs which could be trimmed from Spencer school district's 2009-10 budget...

Library seeking replacement for Walk (01/14/09)
Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson, who was authorized to purchase a laptop computer for patron use recently, is currently fielding a "pretty good list of candidates" for the position formerly held by Mary Walk. Walk, who officially shelved her last children's book as the Spencer library's children's librarian on Dec. 31, 2008, was recognized for her 33 years of service at the library with a come-and-go coffee held the afternoon of Jan. 6...

Area AEA professional finds new technologies exciting (01/13/09)
Appleton honored with Herb Braselman Award The Herb Braselman Award, named for the late first president of the National Association of Media and Technology Centers (NAMTC) organization, is presented in recognition of exemplary service and leadership for regional media centers and for outstanding contributions to the field of educational media and technology...

SMS condo agreement on Tuesday's board agenda (12/13/08)
The Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St. Following a public hearing on Community Housing Initiatives (CHI) and a proposed condominium agreement relating to the old Spencer Middle School building, action is anticipated to be taken by the board...

Old SMS building to host seniors (12/09/08)
In addition to agreeing to offer an early-retirement package to certified staff next year, Spencer school board members authorized moving forward with a "good-will effort" deemed "worth the investment." Before the board directed Superintendent Greg Ebeling to put specifications from Cannon Moss Brygger & Associates for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) for the old Spencer Middle School (SMS) building's first floor out for bid Tuesday night, the superintendent informed them that City Manager Bob Fagen has been working hard behind the scenes to see that a partnership -- aimed at earmarking money for potential improvements, such as the implementation of a handicap-accessible restroom in the building -- is established between the school district, city, county and Clay County Community Foundation.. ...

Deer season opens Saturday (12/05/08)
Iowa's roadways and designated public areas are sure to become busier this Saturday as the first segment of shotgun deer season begins. The first season, which will continue through Wednesday, Dec. 10, will be followed by a second shotgun deer season scheduled from Dec. 13 through Dec. 21. While many more individuals have requested licenses than have been issued, an estimated 130,000 orange-vested hunters are expected to participate in the two seasons...

Holiday Family Adoption Program 7 (11/26/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program continues with a listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

4-H Food Scavenger Hunt benefits food pantry (11/26/08)
Logan Leader 4-H club members organized a food scavenger hunt to help fill local food pantry shelves at Upper Des Moines Opportunity. Club members recognize the cost of food has been rising and the need for food pantry products is increasing. As a group they decided to create a contest among club members to address these needs and have fun while making a positive difference...

Homecoming: A Mayer Family Reunion (11/25/08)
(Photos and text by Randy M. Cauthron) Coffey, Shawn Mayer, Gabe Garcia, Melissa Lawson. One has already secured their spot on the country charts, claiming the 2008 Nashville Star title on the national NBC program and launching her popular country hit, "What If It All Goes Right?" Lawson and her fellow final four members of the TV show put on a wild show for the fans at the Clay County Regional Events Center Saturday night as they concluded their national tour. ...

Holiday Family Adoption Program 6 (11/22/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program continues with a listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

Holiday Family Adoption Program 5 (11/21/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program continues with a listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

Holiday Family Adoption Program 4 (11/20/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program continues with a listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

Holiday Family Adoption Program 2 (11/18/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program continues with a listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

Festival of Trees continues through Saturday (11/13/08)
The fourth annual Festival of Trees sponsored by the Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation will be held at the Clay County Regional Events Center through Saturday with the Festival's Tour of Homes on Nov. 15. his event provides enjoyable activities for people of all ages, including a "Festival Luncheon," Morning with Santa," "Holiday Tour of Homes" and, of course, opportunities to view many splendidly decorated trees as well as festive tables and holiday displays...

SMS career piece focuses on personal pamphlets (11/12/08)
Vocabulary, literacy, creativity and computer skills are intertwining for Spencer Middle School seventh graders who are in the midst of writing and designing their own personal pamphlets for class. Anji Bennett, the art director of Standard Printing and Design of Spencer, spoke to students Tuesday about how layout can help make their pamphlets come to life for readers. ...

Holiday Family Adoption Program begins today (11/12/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program kicks off today with the first listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

U of O Winter Games announced (11/06/08)
The dates for the 29th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games are set for January 23-25, 2009. The Chairperson for this year's event is Molly Gildemeister and the Co-Chair is John Adams, Jr. The University of Okoboji Winter Games will be centered in the Smith's Bay area (weather permitting), with other events held throughout the Lakes Region. Local and regional teams will have the chance to participate on the ice in U of O Winter Games classics, such as Broomball, Softball and Hockey...

Corridor working to join students, industry (11/04/08)
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation in collaboration with area high school Industrial Technology programs is working to connect students with local business and industry. A special event to expand on these efforts will be held on Monday, Nov. 10. "Where Are the Welders?" Instructional Forum and Career Fair will be held at the Spencer High School Industrial Tech building, from 6-9 p.m., free pizza and pop will be served. Students and parents are encouraged to attend...

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